Music-instruction device



Dec. 2, 1930. G. H. D. GIBSON MUSIC INSTRUCTION DEVICE l n n A n 1 1 I .IPI

Fig. l.

191GB 'j Invent-0T Patented Dec. 2, 1930 "UNiTEDsTATl-:s lPA'IENT eri-*1c GEORGE HERBERT DWIGHT GIBSON, oF OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADAy MUSIC-INSTRUCTION DEVICE Application filed May l2, 1927, Serial No.7190,914, and in Canada April 4, 1927.

Thisinvention relates to music instruction devices and has forits object 'to provide a simple and inexpensive device by means of wliich'the tonic sol-fafname of any staff notation note in any key can be readily discovered and learnt.

'By the use of the device it is possible to nd quickly and easily for staff notation music written in any given key, the name of the major or relative minor key note, the tonic sol-fa names of the notes whichr are sharpened or flattened by the key signature and also the tonic sol-fa names of the remainder of the scale of the key in question. The tonic `sol-fa names are graphically indicated in the lines and spaces of the correspending notes in the staii' notation, so that conversion from one notation to the other is accomplished with great simplicity and rapidity.

Various forms of charts and other ratus have been proposed with this object in View, including devices consisting of sheathlike members on which are printed musical sta-ves on one or both sides and having perforations on the lines and spaces of the staves, through which tonic sol-fa names and key signatures appear, the tonic sol-fa names and key signatures being printed on a slidable card mounted in the sheath-like member.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved and particularly advantageous form of the type of device described in the next paragraph;

According to the present invention the music instruction device comprises a member bearing musical staves and perforated on the lines and spaces of said staves and a slidable element bearing musical indiciavadapted to aprabe exposed through said perforations, characterized in that on one or more staves for sharp keys the perforations are arranged in a regularly ascending, but staggered, progression on the lines and spaces corresponding to the notes F C Gr D A E B, while on one or more staves for flat keys the perforations are arranged in a regularly descending, staggered progression on the lines and spaces corresponding to the notes B E A D G C F.

It will be noticed that the perforations are arranged on the lines and spaces corresponding to the notes of a key signature of seven sharps or flats, but with this difference that, ordinarily the' Sharps for F and C are arranged an octave above the position in which the corresponding perforations are disposed according to the present invention. This difference makes it possible to make the sharp perforations ascend regularly in a staggered sequence or progression, which greatly facilitates the instruction of music, and has the additional advantage that the sharp perforations may be made to register with the flat perforations.

Furthermore, the scale sequence indicated by the sol-fa names appearing on the sharpened notes in conjunction with the two oblique parallel lines of apertures leads by direct and easy inference to the sol-fa names of the remaining or unsharpened notes in any required key in sharps. That is to say, in the key of three sharps Z Z represents the appearance of the device at the apertures on F G A B clearly inferring that is to be mentally noted to read Z r and that m represents the appearance of the apertures on `C D E clearly inferring that here is to be mentally noted to read f s so that the lower of the oblique lilies of aperture is Z t (l 1 and the upper is m f s.

The indicia borne by the slidable element is such that when the device is set to a required key the tonic sol-fa names of the sharped er flatted notes appear on one side of the device, while the tonic sol-fa names of the balance of the scale. simultaneously appears on the other side of the device. The perforations thus serve two useful purposes.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by Way of example, one convenient embodiment of the invention,

Figure l is a front elevation of the complete device;

Figure 2v is a rear elevation;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-8 of Figure l;

front view of the slidable each end. Arranged within the sheath 10...

is a slidable member 11 which is also preferably of rectangular shape and of slightly gieater length than the Sheath 10.

n the front of the sheath 10 (See Figure 1) is printed treble and bass Staves 12 and 13, though other staves may be substituted or added by suitable modification if so desired. Y l Y v A series of apertures 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, V2O is formed in the front wall of the sheath, these holes being of a vertical dimension not greater thanl the distance separating the lines of the'staves. The seven holes, 14 to 20, are located on the lines and spaces of the sta 12 which correspond to the notes which are sharped in "a key signature of seven Sharps, that is to, Say, these apertures are arranged onthe staff Anotation notes F, C, Gr, D, A, E, B.` rl`he apertures 14 and 16 Vcorresponding to the F and G sharps are arranged an octave lower than their customary position,

the usual position being indicated by printed Sharps 21 andf22, which, in con- Y junction with, their respective apertures 14 and 16, may be used to demonstrate and teach that the octave of any note in a Space is always on the fourth` line above it, and

that `the octave of a note on aline is in 4the fourth space above it.

A si'nilar series of Vholes 23 to 29 and printed Sharps 30 and 31. are arranged Von the bass Stad 13 vertically below the treble seriesv14 to 20. Y

At convenient positions on the sheath 10, and preferably in the space between the staves 12 and 13, are arranged three apertures 32, 33 and 34, the vertical dimension of which is preferably somewhat larger than that of the aperture on the Staves.

The back of the sheath (see Figure 2) bears treble and bass staves 35 and 36 and a seriesof perforations 37 to 43 on the lines and spaces of the staff 35,7which correspond yto the staff notation notes which are flattened in a key signature of seven flats. A

similar series of holes 44 to 50 is provided -on the bass staff 36 vertically beneath the treble series 37 to 43.

vThree larger holes 51, 52 and 53 are also Vformedbetween the staves 35 and 36. Y l

In the form illustrated the apertures in the front wall of the sheath register with the apertures in the rear wall, the front apertures 14, 32 'and 23, registering with the rear apertures, 43, 53, 50, and so on, so

that the front and rear apertures may be formed by a-single punching operation.

The exposed end of the movable element or card 11 bears on the front (see Figure 5) the word Sharps and on the rear (see Figure 6) the word Flats. On the front and respectively arranged to be exposed through apertures 32 and 34 areprinted the major and minor key notes corresponding Vto any desired number of sharps, which num- Aperture No. Groups of indicia l14 and'23 f d s 1 Z `11110 15 and 24 d s 1" kZ m t 0 V16 and 25 s 1' Z lm t 0 17 and 26 1 Z m t 0 18 and127 Z m t O 19 and 28 m t O 20 and 29 t .c 0 32,l CFiiB VE A DGC se ,7 65432101 34 ADGCFBEA' The normal position of the respective Aperforations in relation tothe first character of each group is indicated by 0 in the above table, from which it will be Seen that the first, or left-hand character, is in all cases normally seven space units from its aperture.

The groupsof characters on the back of the card 11 are as follows:

`Aperture No. Groups of indicia 0 i 37and44 `15ml 1" s dj 38 and 45V m Z 1 s d f 39and46 Z118 d f'. 40 and 47 '1" s d j 41 and 48 's d f 42 and 49 d f I 43and50 kfr. 51 Cb GbDb AbEbBbF C 52v` -7 e5 4k 3 ,21A` 53, AbEb'Bb F VC G DA i Fromi this table itwi'll bel clear that the first, 'or 'left-hand characterv'of each group registers with vitsrespective aperture when the movable card 11 is in Vits normal position withrespect to thef sheath 10.V Y

lVhen it isrdesired to convert staff nota- .tionpmusic into tonic sol-fa` the card11 is vmoved in relation to Vthe sheath 10 kiintilY the number of sh'a'rpsorr flats in which the 'stai notationirmus'ic lis written is exposed through aperture 33 or 52.` The tonic note of the desek sired key may then be read through aperture 32 or 51, if it is a major scale, or aperture or 53, if it is a minor scale. It it is a key in sharps the tonic sol-ta names of the sharpened notes for the desired key are automatically exposed through the apertures on the front ot' the sheath, and the tonic sol-ta names of the complementary part ot the scale in the desired key is at the same time automatically exposed through the apertures on the back of the card. It the desired keyl is in lats the back ot the device is first consulted to discover the number of flats, the major or relative minor key note and the tonic sol-ta names ot the flattened notes, and the tonic sol-ta. names ot' the complementary part otl the scale can be found from the front of the device without further operation.

Four examples may be seen from the drawings. Figures 1 and 2 shows the device in closed or normal position. Figure 1 shows the front of the device and indicates that, when there are no sharps, the key note oi the major scale in sta notation is C, and that A is the key note ot the relative minor scale. Then by reversing the device, (see Figure 2), letters indicating the tonic sol-ta names of the notes for a scale with no sharps or flats may be read on the lines and spaces ot the corresponding notes ot the stattl notation scale in question.

Conversely, if the desired key is in seven iiats, the back of the device is read in the position shown in Figure 2, and it is found that the major scale is Cb and the relative minor Ab. In this instance the key signature exposed through the statt' apertures also gives the tonic sol-fa names or" all the notes of the scale, so that no complement is necessary to complete the scale, and by consulting the other side of the device, (see Figure 1),

, it will be seen that this is true.

In Figures 5 and 6 the card is shown in full lines and the sheath is indicated in chaindotted lines as set for the scale ot four sharps or three ilats. Figure 3 shows that tor a. scale of tour sharps the major scale is E and the minor Ct, and the tonic sol-:ta names, Ray, Lah, Me and Te (indicated by the letters 7', Z, m and t) are exposed through the apertures 14, 15, 16, 17 and 23, 24, 25, 26, which are in the lines and spaces of the corresponding notes F C G D in the statt position. The back of the device, with the same setting, automatically indicates the tonic sol-fa. names of the complementary notes ot the scale in tour sharps, namely, Seh, Doh and F ah, the initial letters ot which are exposed through apertures 37, 38, 39 and 45, 46, as will be seen from Figure 6.

Similarly Figure 6 shows that three ilats is the key of El; major or C minor, and that the three liattened notes are Soh, Doh and Fah in the tonic sol-fa notation. For the same setting the front of the device, (Figure 5) shows the other four notes Ray, Lah, Me andv` Te on the lines and spaces of the corresponding staff. notation notes F, C, G, D of theY scale ot' three flats. i'

Y Themovable element and its sheath may be made of any suitable materiahwhich has the necessary strength and durability.

The device may be readily modilied in various ways without departing from the invention.y For example, the series ot letters and apertures may bemade both on the same sideof the card and sheath.- rlhe staves for sharps and flats will then be arranged side by side and may be more conveniently read, though they device will then be twice the lengthk of the illustrated form and therefore less convenient 'for carrying.

'Ihe` device also be arranged so that the card moves obliquely .or vertically with respect to the sheath. card may be made ot partial cylindrical form with the axis of the cylinder extending either vertically or horizontally.

Having 4now particularly described and ascertained the nature of mysaid invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

`1. A music instruction device of the character described comprising a. member bearing a representation of a musical stallrl and perforations on the lines and spaces of theksaid stall' disposed in two inclined but parallel rows, characterized in that on a stall tor sharp keys the periorations are arranged in a regularly ascending but staggered progression onthe lines and spa-ces corresponding to the notes F C G D A E B, while on a statt tor hat keys the perforations are arranged in a regularly descending but staggered progression on the lines and spacescorresponding to the'notes B E A D GC F.

2. A music instruction device ofthe character described, comprising a member bearing musical staves and pertorations on the lines and spaces of each said sta-ft disposed in wo inclined but parallel rows, and a slidable element bearing musical indicia adapted to be exposed through the said perforations, characterized in that on one or more staves for sharp keys the perforations are arranged in a regularly ascending but staggered progression on the lines and spaces corresponding to the notes F C G D A E B, while on one or more staves for-ilat keys the pertorations are arrangedin a regularly descending but staggered progression on the lines and spaces corresponding to the notes: B E A D G C F.

3. A music instruction device of the character described, comprising a member bearing musical staves and pertorations on the lines and spaces of each inclined but parallel rows, and al slidable element bearing musica-l indicia adapted to be exposed through the said pertorations, characterized in that on one or more staves for Or the sheath and lsaid statt disposed in two l0 Y j member while the staii or staVes for flat Y keys is or are'arranged on the other side of the sharp keys the perforations are arranged in a regularly ascending but staggered progression of the lines and spaces correspondingto the notes F C G D A E B, while on one or more staves for flat keys the perforations are arranged in a regularly descending but staggered progression on the lines and spaces l corresponding to the notes: B E A D G C F,

wherein the staff or stavesrfor sharp keys is or are arranged on the one side of the member, a sharpstaff being disposed'to register with afi'lat stai andthe perfora-V tions (F C G D A E B) ona sharp stai being arranged to register with the perforations (B E A D G C F) on ailat staff.

Y LL. A music instruction device of the character described, comprising a member bearing musical staves and perforations on the lines and spaces of each said stai disposed in two inclined but parallel rows, and a slidable element bearing musical indicia adapted to be exposed through the saidy perforations,

. characterized` in that on one ork more staves for sharp keys the perforations are arranged in a regularly ascending but staggered ,progression on the lines and spaces corresponding to the notes F C G D A E B, while on one or more staves for flat keys the perorations are arranged in a regularly descending but staggered progression on the lines and spaces corresponding to the notes: B E A D GC F, wherein the stai'f or staves ior sharp keys is or are arranged on the one side of the member while the staff or sta-ves for flat keys is or are arranged on the other side of the Amember, a Y sharp7 staii' being disposed to register with a flat stai and the perforations (F C Gr D A E B) on a sharp staff being arranged to register with the perforations (B E A D G C F) on a flat staff, in which the slidable element bears the tonic sol-fa names of the notes corresponding to the staff notation notes indicated by the'perorations on the lines and spaces of the said staves, characterized in that for each registering position of the slidable element sharped notes only are so registered on the sharp staves and indicate a sharp key, the letter namel of which is contained in the letter name of the flat key registered simultaneously on the flat staves on which latted notes only are registered.

. v GEORGE HERBERT DWIGHT GIBSON. 

